August.6th was the hottest day of the year. It was wise to avoid walking outside so I guided my guest to Kenninji temple and Fukujuen where you can enjoy tea ceremony experience.
Before the tea ceremony, we went to Kenninji, one of the oldest Zen temple in the city. Its founder Eisai firstly imported green tea leaves from China and its Hattou lecture hall is surrounded by the hedge of green tea leaves. Also Kenninji holds an old tea house which has very low and narrow entrance called “nijiri-guchi”. It is a device to treat everybody equal because even high social status man has to bend in the moment when passing thorough the entrance.
My guests got interested in tea ceremony and requested me to go the one in table and chair style so I made reservation at Fukujuen nearby the temple. It was first experience for me to go the chair style ceremony because we usually hold it at tatami mat room.
The design of hanging scroll, bowls of tea and accompanied sweet all reflected the sense of summer. Especially I like the transparent design of the sweet that makes me cool.
As there is a saying in tea ceremony ‘”Ichi-go ichi-e” which means "Treasure every encounter”, the host shows the utmost consideration for the guests. I’d like to practice it also in the guiding activity for good experience of my guests.
Dear Koichi
ReplyDeleteThank you for a wonderful day in Kyoto. Your good spirits and insider knowledge helped us keep our cool on what would have been a testing day alone on the tourist trail.
We were delighted to have your assistance at the Kenninji temple and also at the tea ceremony. We also enjoyed walking with you through Nishiki market and the festival by the river.
Wishing you many more happy adventures.
Kind regards
Alison
Dear Koichi,
ReplyDeleteWe would like to thank you for taking the time to bring us to one of the most beautiful temple in Northern Kyoto. Kurama-dera nestled into the mountainside is a stunning temple full of peace, beauty and love. Spectacular views roll on into infinity from the temple balcony, giant and sacred cedar trees surround hidden outposts and ancient forests with living roots dig into the soil of the forest floor.
Having you as our guide in sharing with us of such a unique and wonderful place was a very enriching and fun experience. We felt both privileged and lucky to have someone like you to talk about this spectacular place or ask questions about Japanese traditions and culture. Our kids enjoyed the conversations with you about Kyoto. We doubt we could get the same valuable experience had we just went to Kurama by ourselves or learned about this amazing place from a guide book.
Once again, thank you very much for the wonderful time, for the patience to answer every single question that we asked and for the attentions toward our kids. We will not hesitate to highly recommend you should the chance arise for everyone who is in need of Kyoto guide.
We look forward to meeting you and visiting Kyoto/Japan in the future!!!
Best wishes from Avshalom’s family.